Li Mengheng, a lead performer, said audiences could feel the story and its emotions through the stylized movements and body language of traditional Chinese opera even without prior familiarity with the form.

　　"I feel that Egyptian audiences understand the rhythm of our performance particularly well. They know when to applaud and when to give the performers some encouragement," Li said.

　　The Chinese play is one of 15 productions from 13 countries in the festival's official competition, including entries from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Spain, Germany, and Russia, spanning dramatic and physical theatre, contemporary dance, puppetry, visual theatre and multimedia performances.

　　Sabine Liebherr from Germany described the production as "absolutely magical," saying it carried "something of a general truth about human existence."

　　"You have to be careful what you wish for," she said, referring to a theme of the play. "If your wish does not come from a good heart, the result can be disastrous."

　　She was also struck by the performers' movements. "The way they moved was so graceful -- they were almost floating."

　　The Chinese opera "Liaozhai: Purple Tail" is staged at the 33rd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre (CIFET) in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 4, 2026.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

　　Running from Sept. 1 to 8, this year's CIFET brings together Egyptian, Arab and international theatre practitioners for performances, workshops and discussions centered on experimentation and new approaches to theatrical expression.

　　For Malak Mahmoud, a fourth-year Chinese-language student at Cairo University, the performance offered a chance to experience Chinese culture firsthand rather than through a screen.